by Nicole Auerbach, USA TODAY Sports

by Nicole Auerbach, USA TODAY Sports

Gonzaga's seven-foot center Kelly Olynyk has decided to forgo his final year of eligibility and declare for the NBA draft, Olynyk's father, Ken, confirmed in a text message to USA TODAY Sports. The Spokesman-Review (Wash.) first reported the news Friday afternoon.

"I love this place, I love my teammates, but the NBA has been a dream of mine since I was a little kid so it was something I had to act on," Olynyk said in a statement released by Gonzaga later Friday. "It's your dream. That's the highest level and everyone wants to play at the highest level. It will be a journey, but I think it will be a fun one. You have to make sure you are ready to go and you are ready to play. You're just moving on and you don't know what's going to happen up there."

"It was tough. When you talk to people no one really tells you to go or not go; everyone says it's your decision. Everyone tells you why you should go and why you could come back. Everyone kind of leaves you hanging in that sense. They just say go with your heart, go with your gut and that's what will make the best decision."

Olynyk told Gonzaga coach Mark Few he was going pro Friday morning. Few said in a statement he was "very proud" of what Kelly accomplished at Gonzaga and wished him well at the next level.

The redshirt junior averaged 17.8 points, 7.3 rebounds, 1.7 assists and 1.1 blocks per game this season. He also shot 63 percent from the field, helping to guide Gonzaga to a 32-3 record. Olynyk emerged as one of the nation's premier players after sitting out for a season to develop as a basketball player. During his redshirt year, Olynyk worked on strength training, agility and balance.

He needed to improve in all those areas, particularly if he wanted playing time. Over his first two seasons with the 'Zags, Olynyk averaged just 4.8 points and 12.9 minutes a game. He debated transferring, but instead decided to stay put and improve his body and game in Spokane.

"Kelly's always had a belief that he was an NBA player," Gonzaga strength and conditioning coach Travis Knight told USA TODAY Sports in January. "Early on, I think that was met with a lot of comments, basically, trying to help him see the picture clearly of where he really was. Really, you think you play like this guy? You think you're going to be this guy?

"He had a belief that he could do it. He kept that goal in the front of his mind and didn't let go of it. There are a lot of guys who say that but don't, in their heart of hearts, believe it. But Kelly does, and we're all starting to see it."

Olynyk is projected to be a first-round pick in the June 27 NBA draft.